Syndicate

Friday afternoon’s meeting at Jebel Ali was a rescheduled fixture from the previous week when called off after the sad death His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Ahmad Al Mualla, the ruler of Umm Al Quwain.

The Shadwell organisation of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum again sponsored the afternoon’s feature, on this occasion a 1600m handicap which was won impressively by Plavius.

Trained by Abdulla bin Huzaim, Willie Supple was in the saddle and said: “He is a nice young horse and can hopefully progress from this.”

Racing opened with a 1400m Purebred Arabian maiden which was won by Richard Mullen on the Jaci Wickham-trained Jadhebeh W’Rsan, while Rashed Bouresly’s Dona Dubai repeated her victory of 2008 in the 1600m handicap for fillies and mares.

The concluding 1000m handicap was won by the Adi Selvaratnam-trained Tulipa Di Job who was repeating his course and distance victory of the previous meeting.

He was ridden by Fernando Jara who was completing a treble having won early on the Doug Watson duo of Jackson and Lord Ego.

The trainer was also completing a treble, having also won the 1200m maiden with the Daragh O’Donohoe-ridden Alsadeek.

Watson, who had the last winner at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday, said: “The horses are in good form and hopefully we can have a strong second part of the season. We have some nice horses to come out for the Carnival.”

The Carnival to which he refers is the 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival, the $31million racing extravaganza which starts at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday evening.